Just this past week, we have
seen two examples come through our email list of people we care about going
through serious health challenges. The
reality of this life is that sudden crises can pop up seemingly out of nowhere. This week, we give praise for the miraculous
result for Ron with many prayers being answered. Candidly though, sometimes it
can feel like God is not paying attention.
Our passage below helps us have a better understanding of these moments
when our fear overwhelms our faith.
Mark 4:35-41 - That day when
evening came, He said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other
side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along,
just as He was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A
furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was
nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The
disciples woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He
got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be
still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his
disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other,
“Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Things to think about:
· To the extent
there is such a thing as an “ordinary day with Jesus”, this scene starts out as
an ordinary day with Jesus. He was
telling and explaining parables, and speaking to a large crowd about the
kingdom of God. When Jesus was finished
for the day, He instructed the disciples to take Him to the other side of the
lake. Then things started getting
interesting.
· While He was
sleeping (I love this detail of His humanity!) a furious squall arose, nearly
capsizing the boat they were in. I’m not
sure how He could sleep while the boat was being overwhelmed by the water but apparently
He could
o
Are you sleeping well or not so well these days?
· Now the
disciples had already seen Jesus drive out a spirit, heal a paralyzed man, heal
a man with a withered hand, and many others so they knew He had power like the
world had never seen. So naturally they woke Him up and wanted to know if He
cared about this current crisis.
o
“Don’t you care if we drown?”
o
Do you feel like you’re in danger of drowning? What waves are
crashing over you?
§ Finances
§ Relationships
§ Health
§ Undisclosed
bad habit
· Of course, we
know that Jesus does care. He always
“gets up” to calm the storm if we ask.
o
In fact, in Romans 8:34 it tells us that Jesus is at the right
hand of the Father interceding for us constantly
· But sometimes
it does appear that He’s still asleep.
The finances are still a mess, the relationship is still fractured, a
loved one’s health doesn’t get better.
So how do we reconcile these things?
o
One of the most theologically sound things you can say is, “I
don’t know.”
o
Isaiah 55: 8-9 - “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your
ways My ways,” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
§ Like children, we don’t always understand
what’s going on.
§ During the final week of Jesus’
life, it certainly looked like God wasn’t paying attention to the furious
squall as His son was imprisoned, humiliated, beaten, imprisoned and of course
crucified.
§ But we know that a greater
purpose, i.e., the payment for our sins, was being worked out.
o
It is
perhaps over-quoted but it doesn’t make Romans 8:28 any less true – “All things
work together for the good for those who love God and are called according to
His purpose.”
§ It doesn’t say all things ARE
good, but that they work together FOR good.
· So when the inevitable furious
squalls come, let’s not let faith be overcome by fear.
o
Psalm
121:3-4 says God never sleeps or slumbers.
He is always watching over you.
o
Psalm
100:5 reminds us, “For the Lord is
good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues
through all generations.”
o
Our text illustrates He is able. “Who is this? Even the wind and
the waves obey Him.”
o
He’s there, He cares, we need not despair!
